World Food Day 2025 put transforming food systems to give everyone access to a healthy, sustainable and affordable diet at the top of the agenda. 

This is an urgent, shared task that requires the best ideas and the most innovative action from across the globe. This blog focuses on how Europe’s world-leading biotech industry can get the proper support to allow innovations in novel proteins to flourish, and benefit the whole of the world. 

Novel proteins: a potential part of sustainable food solutions

The impact of animal-based proteins like meat and dairy on the climate has ramped up interest in protein alternatives that could help meet sustainability goals on land use, pollution and biodiversity. 

Food accounts for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of freshwater use. Even if we stopped burning fossil fuels tomorrow, emissions from food alone would take us up to 2°C global warming by the end of this century. So any conversation about climate change must involve food systems.

Some consumers are already cutting down or cutting out meat and dairy products, but others are put off by a lack of affordable, safe and appealing alternatives. Here is where novel proteins can help.

Novel proteins are proteins from non-traditional sources which can fully or partly replace meat, fish, dairy or eggs for consumers who want to diversify their protein intake. Many of these are yet to hit mainstream food markets but include: precision fermentation, cultivated meat or plant-based products. 

Appetite for change? 

While we’d expect the introduction of novel foods to be met with some caution, a 2025 Euroconsumers survey found that 50% of consumers in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal would try cultivated meat if it were approved in their market. 

Novel proteins: who will develop Europe’s food future? 

With an obvious need to diversify our protein sources, and signs of a consumer appetite to give new proteins a try, the next question is: who will develop the EU’s food future? 

Nearly half (46%) of consumers surveyed by Euroconsumers about novel proteins would like the EU to be more proactive in supporting the production and commercialization of sustainable meat alternatives.

Europe’s depth of expertise in tissue engineering, biotechnology and food science plus world-class agri-food and biotech clusters made it an early pioneer in novel proteins. The first patent for growing meat from stem cells was filed in 1999, and the world’s first cultivated meat burger debuted in 2013. 

However, Europe risks being left behind in a market that started in their very own R&D labs. This will have economic repercussions across the market, and for consumers could limit access to trusted, affordable sustainable alternative foods.

What Europe does with its novel protein headstart is now critical, and policy makers intent on improving competitiveness must look at where opportunities lie to supersize homegrown innovation.

Novel proteins in the EU: from pioneer to potential innovation exodus? 

Despite the EU’s size and promising start, a recent survey of foodtech companies did not consider the EU a priority market for novel proteins. 

Industry figures here say there’s a lack of infrastructure and investments to bring their product to scale from the start-up phase. This chimes with what Draghi identified in his landmark report on EU competitiveness – Europe’s innovation capacity is stifled by the lack of an integrated capital market.

At the same time, foreign investment is being poured into US-based firms, and public investment from the EU is low compared to its competitors: €7 million is reserved for alternative proteins under Europe’s Horizon programme, compared to €135 million invested by Canada and €67.5 million by the UK. 

The importance of keeping corporate capture in check

As venture capital continues to flood into the cultivated meat sector, the risk of corporate capture could emerge as investors eager for returns are nudging start-ups towards acquisition by larger players. We see that major agribusinesses now hold significant stakes in alternative protein companies.

This growing concentration of ownership could stifle competition, narrow consumer choice, and deepen existing inequalities in the global food system. Past developments underscore the risks of allowing dominant players to control emerging food technologies: 

Industry giants like Cargill and Tyson Foods already own substantial shares in cultivated meat ventures. Both have previously faced legal action over alleged price-fixing schemes that harmed consumers.

To prevent monopolistic practices, Europe must act decisively to develop a clear regulatory framework that can ensure novel proteins stay accessible, competitive and publicly accountable. 

When asked about cultured meat in a recent survey across 63% of respondents said they believe its production should be regulated by public authorities, to ensure access for everybody and prevent monopolies.

Novel proteins: Europe’s competitive innovation opportunity  

With the right safeguards in place, Euroconsumers supports the development of novel proteins as a valuable contribution to solving the challenges articulated on World Food Day.

We think building the market in Europe, on the foundations of European innovation will give consumers the best chance of an affordable, sustainable choice of new proteins. 

Building up the resilience and impact of the novel protein sector is something the new EU Biotech Act must consider as it sets out to simplify regulation for the biotech sector more generally and drive European competitiveness.

A decisive moment for European biotech 

Consumers feel novel proteins could be a valid option in the search for healthy, affordable and sustainable meat and dairy alternatives. Bringing these dishes to the table needs the right infrastructure, investments and ambition from a Europe that has lost the lead on innovation before. 

Europe stands at a crossroads. The choices made now will shape whether we lead or lag in the transition ahead.

By championing consumer empowerment, nurturing innovation, and upholding fair market principles, we have the opportunity to build a vibrant alternative protein sector that delivers tangible benefits for people, environment and the economy.